Catching up on some of the news from over the weekend, I see that the mysterious “Poe Toaster” made his annual visit to Edgar Allan‘s grave, leaving behind the customary tribute of roses and cognac for the author’s birthday. This pleases me; I was afraid the controversy last fall over the Toaster’s identity might have disrupted or even ended the tradition for good, and that would have been a real shame. We need these strange rituals and half-legendary figures, I think. If we ever clear up all the mysteries, the world will be diminished for it.

I was a little bummed to hear, however, that “the visitor no longer wears the wide-brimmed hat and scarf he donned in the past.” That’s too bad. I’ve always liked the idea that the Toaster was actually Lamont Cranston…